Eternal homemaking

Eternal homemaking

I’m slicing a crisp red apple, listening to Italian opera, and watching feathered friends flutter to and from a barn-wood birdhouse. It’s a blissful moment of transition, between one activity and the next. I watch two little house sparrows busily work, with obvious rhythm and order. They’re fluffing their nest, as I’m fluffing mine. Taking turns, one bird takes off in search of the perfect addition to their home while the other stands guard, tweaking the in-progress project.

Once, the excited explorer returns with a pliable yellow weed much longer than the bird’s own length. He proudly hops along the fence, showing off his good find. Then he brings the weed inside – or at least he tries to. It takes several attempts and different angles to finally slide the lengthy plant within. The hefty lifting and manhandling maneuvers looks like a lot of work … and I can relate.

Being a homemaker means housework; and it begins at an early age. I watch Anna hoist an awkward, heavy couch cushion into position for her fort – it nearly topples onto her head. When Eli is reminded to clean his spin-cycled room, an overwhelming weight of responsibility clouds his face – to a five-year-old, the job of cleaning up his nest feels nearly impossible. And Avery, my mini-me-mommy, bustles about accomplishing morning chores and steaming with exasperation after reorganizing something she already organized several times today.

As the Italian opera peaks to an encompassing level of strength and passion, the Spirit’s message of symbolism culminates with perfect timing:Housework is eternal. … and our Savior knows nesting best …

Jesus Christ is the ultimate homemaker. He says, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). He’s preparing a house for us, a mansion in fact. I have a feeling there’s much more ground to cover and clean in a mansion than my current nesting grounds. But our Savior isn’t concerned with the amount of effort to put forth or how long it takes to clean (us) in preparation; He willingly and cheerfully does the homemaking for us, preparing heavenly mansions. A thought like that makes me want to be more willing and cheerful to complete my housework now. If He can do all that for me, the least I can do is a bit of housework for my family. Knowledge of His housework and His house making completely changes my outlook on my own routine domestic chores. It’s making me better, as well as making my house cleaner.

How do you keep an eternal perspective during the everyday cleaning routine?

In the last month, several inspiring bloggers have written about the elevated role of homemaker, based on Sis. Oscarson’s General Conference talk “Defenders of The Family Proclamation.” And some fabulous women rounded up the articles so you can access them easily. Gain further insight by clicking on the links below! 🙂

One of my favorite examples of Jesus Christ as the ultimate homemaker is found in John 21. It is after He was resurrected. The apostles are out fishing and not catching anything. They see Him at the shore not knowing who He is. Jesus tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the ship where they fill them with fish. The apostles then recognize who He is. Peter swims to shore while the others bring the boat in. This is the same story where Peter is told to “Feed my sheep.” But there is a little something that happens before that most people miss.

“As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

” Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. . .

Here Jesus created a temporary home for them. A place where they could be refreshed, renewed, and then taught. I love that he used everyday items they were used to. Nothing fancy, just fish and bread. And it was enough.